Sneak Peek at Sony POV

Lynne Whelden · September 11th, 2012, 05:28 AM

I've heard absolutely nothing. It seems like such a radical new concept....like a modular camera. (I've never liked the idea of a camera without a viewfinder, however. That makes no sense whatsoever.)

Lynne Whelden · September 12th, 2012, 05:41 AM

My guess is that the adapter which will convert the Action Cam into a handheld camera will snap on the bottom, making a pistol-like grip that will also have a small (2"?) fold-out screen. Should be very light, perhaps only doubling the total weight.

Don Litten · September 17th, 2012, 03:22 PM

Well....I was fully expecting GoPro to release something at Photokina tomorrow and it doesn't appear they will be there at all.

I preordered the Sony today. I'm tired of this game.

Duane Steiner · September 19th, 2012, 07:19 PM

Mine shipped from Sony and is on it's way. Hope to test it out this weekend.

Don Litten · September 20th, 2012, 04:32 AM

Amazon is telling me mine should be here next Wednesday.

Lynne Whelden · September 21st, 2012, 04:29 PM

Anxiously awaiting your assessment!
Please try to compare to a Hero 2. Up till now they've been the "gold standard," so any review without referencing them will make it hard to know exactly where Sony ranks or what we're even talking about.

Woody Sanford · September 21st, 2012, 05:27 PM

I got mine yesterday. I'm learning the ropes with it. Seems like if your back lit it engages the auto gain and add's noise. I was actually worried the auto white balance would be the obstacle but it seems to be the auto gain. Still, it is capturing detail well and I can work with that. I've only had it for a day and a half but it seems to be more "Noise" than a focus issue to me.

The mic is super sensitive. You would be surprised at what it will pic up while in the water proof housing. I'm controlling mine with a Casio Commando Android and I really like the WiFi. I have about a 1.5 second delay between real time and what I see on the phone. Today I just ran around looking for things to test it on and its been fun so far. No real problems to speak of.

Don Litten · September 22nd, 2012, 02:05 AM

Thanks Woody!
Can you turn the auto gain off ?

Woody Sanford · September 22nd, 2012, 07:42 AM

I don't think so Don. That would be nice though. Here is some test footage.

http://youtu.be/uOYTL4GqNzk

http://youtu.be/cJMREI4KJfU

http://youtu.be/rfugaDw7fIw

http://youtu.be/dZjE2Eu8CJs

Lynne Whelden · September 22nd, 2012, 07:56 AM

Thanks for posting. Very interesting!
I'm amazed how good the audio is in the housing...almost as if the plastic acts as a sort of transducer for the sound waves.
Encouraged by the low light test too.
I can't wait for the camcorder adapter to become available as the final piece of the puzzle (as shooting without any viewfinder is totally non-sensical, wide angle lens or not).

Mark Rosenzweig · September 22nd, 2012, 08:12 AM

To set up any shot you can use your existing Android or Apple phone (with wifi) as a real-time viewfinder. That feature is ready right now. You can even start and stop the video from the phone while viewing. If the camera is mounted so you do not have to hold it, then you can just use the phone as the real-time viewfinder as you shoot. The wifi connection does NOT need internet access, it is direct.

Woody Sanford · September 22nd, 2012, 12:05 PM

I had the front off the housing for the audio while it was on my dashboard. Still I did do some running around with the housing closed and it still picked up more audio than I thought it would.

Mark, I am using a Casio Commando Android phone. There is about a 1.5 second delay, so its not real time and what you see on the phone is only at 15 fps, so it doesn't look quite as smooth. The color is pretty awesome for what it sends to the phone though.

Mark Rosenzweig · September 22nd, 2012, 12:32 PM

Thanks for the info. Clearly wifi-phone is useful for framing the shot, and also better than an attached lcd for self-portraits, like in two of your videos.

I just got mine today.

Woody Sanford · September 22nd, 2012, 12:55 PM

I just got back from a kids birthday party with my two little ones. Very handy to have in your pocket!

Mark, I think you are going to like it, its a fun camera and very impressive for being the size of a pack of gum.

The WiFi works great but you can run into interference. Using it by a running boat motor will shorten the distance you can use and a bluetooth ear piece will to. I'm going to test and see how far away I can use the phone to control it without interference this weekend.

Edit: I haven't gotten my suction cup mount yet but I picked up a cheap Targus Grypton Pro XL from Target that works awesome with this litte camera. I also took the flat QD mount that comes with the camera and backed it with velcro instead of sticking it to something permanent. I can stick it to a ton of things with velcro.

Woody Sanford · September 22nd, 2012, 02:00 PM

I am impressed with the steady shot.

Steady Shot on HDR AS15 - YouTube

September 11th, 2012, 05:28 AM	#31
Lynne Whelden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: williamsport, pa Posts: 604	Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV I've heard absolutely nothing. It seems like such a radical new concept....like a modular camera. (I've never liked the idea of a camera without a viewfinder, however. That makes no sense whatsoever.)

September 12th, 2012, 05:41 AM	#32
Lynne Whelden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: williamsport, pa Posts: 604	Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV My guess is that the adapter which will convert the Action Cam into a handheld camera will snap on the bottom, making a pistol-like grip that will also have a small (2"?) fold-out screen. Should be very light, perhaps only doubling the total weight.

September 17th, 2012, 03:22 PM	#33
Don Litten Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 400	Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV Well....I was fully expecting GoPro to release something at Photokina tomorrow and it doesn't appear they will be there at all. I preordered the Sony today. I'm tired of this game.

September 19th, 2012, 07:19 PM	#34
Duane Steiner Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: CA Posts: 195	Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV Mine shipped from Sony and is on it's way. Hope to test it out this weekend. __________________ www.speedandmotion.com

September 20th, 2012, 04:32 AM	#35
Don Litten Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 400	Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV Amazon is telling me mine should be here next Wednesday.

September 21st, 2012, 04:29 PM	#36
Lynne Whelden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: williamsport, pa Posts: 604	Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV Anxiously awaiting your assessment! Please try to compare to a Hero 2. Up till now they've been the "gold standard," so any review without referencing them will make it hard to know exactly where Sony ranks or what we're even talking about.

September 21st, 2012, 05:27 PM	#37
Woody Sanford Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Princeton, NC Posts: 161	Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV I got mine yesterday. I'm learning the ropes with it. Seems like if your back lit it engages the auto gain and add's noise. I was actually worried the auto white balance would be the obstacle but it seems to be the auto gain. Still, it is capturing detail well and I can work with that. I've only had it for a day and a half but it seems to be more "Noise" than a focus issue to me. The mic is super sensitive. You would be surprised at what it will pic up while in the water proof housing. I'm controlling mine with a Casio Commando Android and I really like the WiFi. I have about a 1.5 second delay between real time and what I see on the phone. Today I just ran around looking for things to test it on and its been fun so far. No real problems to speak of.

September 22nd, 2012, 02:05 AM	#38
Don Litten Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 400	Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV Thanks Woody! Can you turn the auto gain off ?

September 22nd, 2012, 07:42 AM	#39
Woody Sanford Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Princeton, NC Posts: 161	Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV I don't think so Don. That would be nice though. Here is some test footage. http://youtu.be/uOYTL4GqNzk http://youtu.be/cJMREI4KJfU http://youtu.be/rfugaDw7fIw http://youtu.be/dZjE2Eu8CJs Last edited by Woody Sanford; September 22nd, 2012 at 07:44 AM. Reason: Bad Links

September 22nd, 2012, 07:56 AM	#40
Lynne Whelden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: williamsport, pa Posts: 604	Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV Thanks for posting. Very interesting! I'm amazed how good the audio is in the housing...almost as if the plastic acts as a sort of transducer for the sound waves. Encouraged by the low light test too. I can't wait for the camcorder adapter to become available as the final piece of the puzzle (as shooting without any viewfinder is totally non-sensical, wide angle lens or not).

September 22nd, 2012, 08:12 AM	#41
Mark Rosenzweig Trustee Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Haven, CT Posts: 1,004	Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV To set up any shot you can use your existing Android or Apple phone (with wifi) as a real-time viewfinder. That feature is ready right now. You can even start and stop the video from the phone while viewing. If the camera is mounted so you do not have to hold it, then you can just use the phone as the real-time viewfinder as you shoot. The wifi connection does NOT need internet access, it is direct. Last edited by Mark Rosenzweig; September 22nd, 2012 at 11:28 AM.

September 22nd, 2012, 12:05 PM	#42
Woody Sanford Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Princeton, NC Posts: 161	Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV I had the front off the housing for the audio while it was on my dashboard. Still I did do some running around with the housing closed and it still picked up more audio than I thought it would. Mark, I am using a Casio Commando Android phone. There is about a 1.5 second delay, so its not real time and what you see on the phone is only at 15 fps, so it doesn't look quite as smooth. The color is pretty awesome for what it sends to the phone though.

September 22nd, 2012, 12:32 PM	#43
Mark Rosenzweig Trustee Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Haven, CT Posts: 1,004	Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV Thanks for the info. Clearly wifi-phone is useful for framing the shot, and also better than an attached lcd for self-portraits, like in two of your videos. I just got mine today.

September 22nd, 2012, 12:55 PM	#44
Woody Sanford Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Princeton, NC Posts: 161	Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV I just got back from a kids birthday party with my two little ones. Very handy to have in your pocket! Mark, I think you are going to like it, its a fun camera and very impressive for being the size of a pack of gum. The WiFi works great but you can run into interference. Using it by a running boat motor will shorten the distance you can use and a bluetooth ear piece will to. I'm going to test and see how far away I can use the phone to control it without interference this weekend. Edit: I haven't gotten my suction cup mount yet but I picked up a cheap Targus Grypton Pro XL from Target that works awesome with this litte camera. I also took the flat QD mount that comes with the camera and backed it with velcro instead of sticking it to something permanent. I can stick it to a ton of things with velcro. Last edited by Woody Sanford; September 22nd, 2012 at 01:07 PM. Reason: Add something

September 22nd, 2012, 02:00 PM	#45
Woody Sanford Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Princeton, NC Posts: 161	Re: Sneak Peek at Sony POV I am impressed with the steady shot. Steady Shot on HDR AS15 - YouTube